To feel stagnated at work

[Suddenly1987]

I have a decent job and a decent pay but financial and career progression is currently non- existent at my work place and everyone around me is so demotivated. I am currently pregnant but feeling stagnated and like I need to do something otherwise I will return from maternity and be stuck in a job with a 2021 salary and unable to move forward. Before getting pregnant I applied to lots and lots of jobs (many of which were going to be stretch roles) and had 0 success. I worry that I will get pigeonholed and that will be even more difficult to move on when I come back from maternity. AIBU?

Depends how much you value a career over an easier life.

I sometimes feel unmotivated and stuck in a rut career wise. However I have a WFH job that works with the kids school hours. I don't need wrap around care and shortly will have no pre school fees to pay. If a child is sick I can make up my hours around my husbands work hours I e work late into the night or first thing.

There can be value in a job that you can do with your eyes shut when you've got very young children.

Personally I'd see how you get on with your kit days once you begin to return after maternity and see how you feel then.

Thank you for this perspective. I also WFH and wouldn't change this for anything. You are also right that I might value flexibility and 'ease' more than career progression once I return. So far work has been a big part of my 'identity' but it doesn't mean that it will stay this way forever. I guess I would just like to avoid getting stuck irreversibly but maybe that's me overthinking.🤔